Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  NIce looking vehicle for the price - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By stacey - October 18 - 3:23 am

  We bought this vehicle after doing some considerable shopping. We have always had good luck with GM products so we decided to give this a test dive. I love the exterior design, it looks like it would be a more expensive vehicle then what it is.

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  i am happy - 1992 Chevrolet Corsica
  By ienfjts - October 18 - 2:00 am

  i bought it new in 1992. and accept for some brake replacements every couple of years it has been good to me. it is just as fast as other more pricey cars but has alot more room for the kids. the only other problem i had was i had to replace the sol. on the torque convertor at about 80000 miles. that was an pain because every garage i went to thought it was the torque convertor was going out. .

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  my car sucks - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By beautifulsound - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought my car from a friendly old man who convenced me that the only right car for me was my chevrolet cavalier. He was a liar and a theif! I now am the unproud owner of a car that constantly breaks down and takes all my money. Please dont buy a car from a friendly old man! Death to cavaliers!

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  Great Car-But! - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By CLMcC - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I do love my 2000 Impala (19000 miles) but I am concerned about the intermediate steering shaft. I had a knocking/banging noise when driving the car, it was constant. I just took it in to have it repaired today. I hope my dealership will fix it properly. I have noticed other complaints about this problem also (that is why the But!). Really can not complain about anything else but GM should notice this problem.

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  Jim - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By Clinton Baker - October 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a dependable rugged van. The AWD makes all the difference. Moves through snow and slippery roads with ease. Sitting high makes visability great. Pulled my 2000 pound boat like it wasnt there.

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  Tahoe-JGM - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Joe Morra - October 18 - 2:00 am

  Only problems have be the master cylinder and the battery cables. Otherwise reliable and safe. About 18 mpg on the road.

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  You get what you pay for... - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By starcherja - October 18 - 2:00 am

  My wife bought this car brand new in 1997 and I "inherited" it and its problems when we were married two years later. A fun car to drive with all of the options, unfortunately not very well constructed and very unreliable. Now at 75,000 miles have replaced water pump, sunroof module, ignition, etc. Have had trouble getting problems resolved through multiple GM garages. All and all, a dissapointing experience with what should have been a fun car. Buyer beware!

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  chevys rule - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By star700 - October 18 - 2:00 am

  its a good car to drive in the summer but you have to be careful when it is raining. Thats why im happy to have the sgs button to help get traction in the rain.

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  The most under rated family van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Chris T. - October 18 - 2:00 am

  We sold our 1995 Astro only to buy another one for 2000. This van is the most under rated family vehicle on the road. It is more roomy than the Full Sized Expensive SUVs. The 4.3 6 cyclinder engine delivers a very good performance, despite what the horsepower rating of 190 says. This van is very smart.

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  I LOVE MY TRUCK - This thing doesnt break! - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dan - October 17 - 9:28 pm

  Between 110,000 and 173,000, my most major repairs were replacing a light bulb and clean out a clogged mass airflow sensor. The rest was tires, brakes, shocks, fluids, and a wheel bearing. Ive averaged $81/mo over 5.5 years in maintenance and tires. Way cheaper than anything Ive ever owned and more than compensates for the gas mileage. It is very comfortable for me (64" 210lbs) and I can ride for hours. My only complaint is the rust. I was able to have the insides of the bottoms of the doors ground down, sealed, and repainted and that has held off that rust fairly well. BUT, the rockers, quarters and fenders are rotting very quickly. They probably got worse as I was typing. However, I love my truck so much that even at 173k, I may spring for new panels and paint.